(Not so) Skinny Jeans

Laura from Titchy Threads/CraftStorming has a new pattern up - her Small Fry Skinny Jeans in size 2T. I sewed along last week and am finally posting photos (new camera - yay!). (She will release a full pattern with more sizes in future.)

They are large. Not skinny (yet). And too long. But other than that, perfect! :)  Abigail will grow into them. Currently she's wearing 18months and some 24months in ready-to-wear.

I used some bargain bin fabric for $5/m - it's a lightweight stretch denim. The lining of the pockets and the waistband facing are scraps leftover from a home dec project. Plus a button and topstitching thread - total cost was under $7!

I made a template of the back pocket out of paper, drew on the design I wanted, then cut it out and traced onto each back pocket. Love how it turned out!

For the front pockets, I wanted a nice clean edge at the outside curve, so when I pressed the pocket I forced the lining to roll out at the inside curve. This project had several firsts for me - first time doing a half-fly, first time making manual buttonholes (without my magical buttonhole attachment :( ), first adjustable waistband.

This Titchy Threads pattern is well-written and drafted and I was able to follow the directions in reverse for a girl version, as she marked the differences. Definitely planning a second pair! In fact, I've already bought the fabric: kelly green twill with a green and yellow fabric for the linings!

Jersey Lovin' (and a giveaway!)

Welcome to CraftyHour for my stop on the Jersey Love Tour! I was super excited for a chance to be part of Bonnie's tour and try out one of her great new patterns. AND also try Riley Blake's new line of  Jersey Basics!

I had a hard time choosing which pattern to try. The Runaround Pants looked like they'd be great on one of my boys, but I know just how hard they are on pants. I also loved the Carnival Skort (keep scrolling! ;] ). Finally I chose the Beachcomber Dress - picking out fabrics for it was a treat!

The pattern: As with every one of hers I've used, Bonnie's pattern was perfectly detailed, printed out properly, and was easy to understand. There were a good amount of tips and pointers for working with the fabric that really made it easy. I decided on the size 18 months because Abigail is still wearing mostly that size in ready-to-wear.

The fabric: I have sewn with knits before, with varying degrees of success - interlock, rib knit, jerseys - but never anything like the RB jersey! It's mostly cotton with 5% spandex, giving it a great recovery. When the fabric came I was in awe of the soft and smooth feel, but sewing it was even better. I don't have a walking foot on my machine and sometimes have to rely on spray starch to be able to sew knits. With this, I just lessened the presser foot pressure and it fed through beautifully! The best part was not worrying about finishing anything or hemming!

The BEST part about this wonderful jersey - washability! While I was taking photos in the backyard, little missy snitched a baby tomato from the garden, and right after this next photo, sprayed it all over her front! I was horrified, but with a pre-treatment, it washed right out! Then the next day my husband spilled coffee (don't worry, not hot) down the front, so in the laundry again. The stains came out and it still looks great!

It was a great sewing experience and we now have a gorgeous quality, hand-made garment that gets lots of comments when we're out! She loves her soft and "pitty" dress and I definitely love how easy to clean it is!

The only modification I made from the pattern was to add a back neck reinforcement/size tag. 

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...and then... I had enough left to make a Carnival Skort too!

Again, great detailed instructions with colour photos of each step. The only twitchy bit was getting my head around sewing the shorts, waistband and skirt together. Stretching the waistband to fit while stitching it all flat was a bit tricky, and then when I turned it right side around I realized the shorts were wrong side out! Durrrr... A bit of stitch-picking later, and rereading the directions and then it worked out properly.

The fit is great! I love that the skirt did not need elastic in the waistband, which sits comfortably on her and doesn't sag or droop at all.

The little shorts attached underneath are the best! I may just have to do this for skirts in the future. The diaper/panties are covered at the same time as they keep the skirt from twisting around.

And just because she's so cute smelling "fowers":

Be sure to have a look at all the previous stops on the Jersey Love Blog Tour, as well as the stops for tomorrow - the last day!

Tuesday, 8/13: Call Ajaire & Rock the Stitch
Wednesday, 8/14: imagine gnats & Busy, Beautiful and On a Budget
Thursday, 8/15: Shaffer Sisters & Blue Susan Makes
Friday, 8/16: Rooibos Mom & Mama Says Sew
Tuesday, 8/20: Designs by Sessa & Hopeful Threads
Wednesday, 8/21: Making More with Less & Sew Can She
Thursday, 8/22: Crafty Hour & Winter Wonderings … Wanderings & Whatnot
Friday, 8/23: Little Kids Grow & Max California

Now - how would you like to try one of these patterns? Bonnie is very kindly giving away your choice of either the Beachcomber Dress pattern or the Carnival Skort pattern! Just enter below.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

A baby shower, Dino Dudes and Ooga Booga!

Last night I hosted a baby shower for a friend from church. It was lovely out, thankfully, so all 32 of us could sit outside in the backyard instead of being crammed in the (very warm) house.

This was baby Lyncoln's gift from me:

Details
Pattern: #7 Panda hooded jacket from Ottobre Summer 3/2012
Fabric: Michael Miller's Dino Dudes interlock and coordinating ribbed knit that I won from Fishsticks Designs a couple of years ago
Size: 62 (3mo)
Modifications: The only modification I did was to add a little reinforcement layer at the back neck, also perfect for size label. (I love that my set of stamps by Night Owls Menagerie includes birdie tracks, in this case, dino tracks!)

Really enjoying working with knits again! My serger is not though - it really needs a tune-up, but I have a hard time letting it go for 2-4 weeks because I use it constantly. It's skipping stitches and has a tension disk issue. Anyway, I made it work.

Abigail "needed" another dress, so I finally cut into my hoarded Ooga Booga (also from Bonnie's giveaway). She is very pleased with her "pitty dwess".

Details
Pattern: #5 Little Elephant hooded tunic Ottobre Summer 3/2013
Fabric: Purple and Pink Ooga Booga interlock, coordinating interlock for binding
Size: 74 with length cut at 86
Modifications: Same back neck reinforcement/size tag:

The Otto patterns I've sewn so far have been wide and short, so I chose the size that matched her chest and waist most closely, then the length for the size she should be in for her height. Ended up being more a dress than a tunic, but that's ok because the body is a bit roomy still so she can grow into it as a tunic. I think it will be adorable over skinny jeans and a long-sleeve top this winter!

Walking Bitty Baby

The elastic in the hem could have been a little tighter I think. My sewing machine does NOT like clear elastic tape. Took me nearly 2 hours to baste it into the seam allowances. Maybe a teflon foot would help. I love how it turned out, overall! I have some more knits that I've been hoarding - hoping to cut out some hoodies for all three kids soon!

Happy 2nd birthday, Abigail!

Can't believe it's two years already, baby girl!

Outfits with little books from her brothers for Bitty Baby

Birthday girl - waiting for the guests made her cranky. "Tuptake NOW, pease!"

Skirt details
Pattern: Insa skirt from Sewing Clothes Kids Love
Size: 86 (18m-2T)
Fabric: Andalusia by Patty Young, black tweed-look cotton, solid red cotton.
Notions: grosgrain ribbons, red rickrack, black baby rickrack

I went with a Very Hungry Caterpillar theme for her party. There is certainly lots of ideas linked through Pinterest on this theme! The cake/cupcakes was something I saw in many parties. I found free printables for the foods, shrank them and used them for cupcake toppers.

Cupcake!

Tiny purse made by Suzanne!